Pray without ceasing means that we are continually in a spirit of communion with our Heavenly Father. It means to pray frequently, about everything, until it becomes our nature to be in prayer, not something we have to be reminded of.

Jesus not only taught his disciples to pray, but we see in the gospels how important pray was in Jesus’ own life. On one occasion, we read that Jesus gets up early in the morning, while it is still night, and goes off by himself to pray. Another time, we find that Jesus has stayed up the entire night in prayer. Even Jesus, who was God incarnate, spent time alone with God in prayer. There is no way we can be so close to God that prayer isn’t necessary. The night before his arrest, Jesus prayed in agony until his sweat became as great drops of blood. Jesus was passionate about a lot of things, but he never did anything else until it nearly killed him the way he spent this evening in prayer.

At Jesus’ command, we pray in Jesus’ name. Jesus Christ is the contact point between a holy and righteous God and fallen man. Jesus is like the doorman that allows us entry. Jesus regularly comes before God to make intercession for us. Hebrews describes him as our great high priest. Our prayers are given power and authority when we pray in Jesus’ name, for he delivers them directly into God’s presence.

Other examples in the New Testament of prayer are given by the Apostle Paul. He requested prayer for himself, and regularly lifted other church leaders and missionaries up in prayer. He offered prayers of thanks for all those that helped him in his ministry. He wrote to the Ephesians “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” and instucted the sick to be annointed with oil and prayed over.

We are told that the Old Testament prophet Elijah was a man “subject unto like passions as we are,” but he prayed that God would close the windows of heaven and it did rain for three and a half years. Daniel was a man of faith who continued to pray three times a day even after it was made illegal. All we know about Jabez is that he prayed a simple prayer that we are told God answered.

God knows what we have need of even before we ask. It could be that going to him in prayer is more about teaching us something. There is something about prayer that cannot be explained in the way it unites our spirit with the spirit of God. Prayer is not just about talking to God; prayer involves listening. Through prayer, God can speak to us as well. If we read the Bible, one thing becomes clear; the people of God pray.